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SIR MICHAEL FALLON has warned Nato is “prepared to defend” any of its member states amid rising tensions between Russia and the West.

The Secretary of Defence, while confirming the deployment of 150 British troops to Poland, said Vladimir Putin has been testing the alliance’s resolve with recent military manoeuvres, which includes stationing nuclear weapons in firing distance of Europe.

Mr Fallon said Nato has to respond to Moscow and is fully “prepared” to come to the defence of any member state.

Senior ministers from Poland and Britain will hold talks on Monday to discuss security co-operation between the two nations.

As part of the visit, more details will be set out about the deployment in April next year of around 150 troops from the Light Dragoons regiment in Catterick, along with a number of armoured vehicles, to Orzysz in north-east Poland, close to the border with the Russian enclave Kaliningrad.

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Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the senior Conservative MP, who is part of Theresa May’s Polish summit, said: “Test is the right word, that’s what he’s [Putin] been doing.

“We’ve seen long-range aviation, Russian bombers flying down the edge of our flight region, more submarine activity, manoeuvres on the borders outside the Baltic states and across the border from Poland, more maritime activity in the Baltic, we’ve had this cruiser group sail through the English Channel.

“So, Putin, I think is testing the alliance and we have to respond.”

Mr Fallon added: “We have to make clear Nato is a defensive alliance, but equally, it is prepared to come to the defence of those members who feel very vulnerable, partially on the eastern flank, Countries like the three Baltic states and Poland in particular.

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Theresa May will meet the Polish PM to discuss ongoing fears over Moscow's military power

“We will be confirming today our deployment of 150 troops as part of the United States battalion, which is going into Poland next spring.”

The Secretary of Defence also called for Nato members to increase military spending to meet the guidelines which say nations should spend two per cent of their GDP on defence as the alliance “pulls itself together”.

He hit back at suggestions that Eastern European countries might not be reassured by his statement because of the lack of action against the government regime in Syria – despite talk of helping to end the brutal civil war.

Mr Fallon, who blames a lack of drive from Moscow over peace talks in Syria, continued: “Russia controls what’s happening in Syria – they can bring this civil war to an end tomorrow by using their influence.

“They control the skies over Aleppo with the regime and their air defences. We continue to press Russia to use its influence for the good and bring this civil war to an end.

“But in the end, yes, we can’t stop this civil war and in the end it does depend on Russia recognising its responsibilities in bringing the war to an end, and above all letting humanitarian aid into eastern Aleppo.”

Speaking of her meeting with Polish prime minister Beata Szydlo at Downing Street, where they will discuss the ongoing fears surrounding Russia’s military capability, Mrs May said Brexit would not stand in the way of the two nations’ relationship.

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